Heart disease doesn't look the same in women.
It's the #1 killer of women — and the most underdiagnosed.
Standard cholesterol tests miss up to 50% of heart disease risk in women. Our advanced panel measures particle size, inflammatory markers, and genetic risk factors that reveal your true cardiovascular picture.
Why this matters for women
Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined, yet women are significantly less likely to be tested, treated, or even taken seriously when they report cardiac symptoms. Women's heart disease symptoms are different — fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and jaw pain instead of the classic chest-clutching. A standard lipid panel only tells part of the story. Your LDL cholesterol can be "normal" while your LDL particle number is dangerously high. You can have perfect total cholesterol but sky-high Lipoprotein(a) — a genetic risk factor that doubles your heart disease risk and is never tested on routine panels. We also measure hs-CRP (vascular inflammation), homocysteine (an amino acid that damages blood vessels), and fibrinogen (clotting risk) — markers that are especially important for women on hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy.
Symptoms to watch for
What we test
Lipid Panel
Total cholesterol, HDL (protective), LDL (harmful), and triglycerides. The starting point for cardiovascular assessment — but far from the complete picture.
Apolipoprotein Evaluation
ApoB is a better predictor of heart disease than LDL cholesterol. Each dangerous lipoprotein particle carries one ApoB molecule, making it the most accurate count of particles that can clog your arteries.
hs-CRP
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein measures vascular inflammation — the process that actually causes plaque to form and rupture. Elevated hs-CRP doubles cardiovascular risk independent of cholesterol levels.
Homocysteine
An amino acid that damages blood vessel walls when elevated. High homocysteine is linked to B12 and folate deficiency — common in women — and significantly increases stroke and heart disease risk.
Lipoprotein(a)
A genetic risk factor that affects 1 in 5 people and is never tested on routine panels. Elevated Lp(a) doubles heart disease risk and can't be lowered with diet or statins — but knowing your level changes how aggressively other risk factors should be managed.
Lp-PLA2
An enzyme associated with inflamed, unstable arterial plaque — the kind most likely to rupture and cause a heart attack. Especially valuable for assessing risk in women with borderline cholesterol.
NMR Lipoprotein Fractionation
Advanced particle testing that measures the size and number of your LDL particles. Small, dense LDL particles are far more dangerous than large, fluffy ones — and women are more likely to have the dangerous small particle pattern.
Fibrinogen
A protein involved in blood clotting. Elevated fibrinogen increases heart attack and stroke risk, and is particularly important for women on estrogen-containing birth control or hormone therapy.
Who should consider this panel
- Women with a family history of heart disease, stroke, or high cholesterol
- Anyone on hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy
- Women over 40 who haven't had advanced cardiac screening
- Those with high blood pressure, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome
- Women experiencing unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest tightness
Cited sources
Effectiveness-Based Guidelines for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women — 2011 Update
Mosca L, et al. Circulation, 2011.
Lipoprotein(a) and Its Significance in Cardiovascular Disease: A Review
Duarte Lau F, Giugliano RP. JAMA Cardiology, 2022.
C-Reactive Protein and Other Markers of Inflammation in the Prediction of Cardiovascular Disease in Women
Ridker PM, et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 2000.
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Your heart deserves more than a basic cholesterol check. Get the advanced panel.